Side wall coring tool



2,324,682 ashetg-snep@ l:

Filed March 26 1941 .451- Mb/4v 44&5

R DE LONG SIDE WALL Colima; TOOL my y N .w` N N 5 July 2o, 1943 effb" l L9 w 32 July 20,1943. l l R, DE LCN@ i `2,324,6ia2

SIDE WALL CORING TOOL lFiled March 2s, `1.94.1 s shams-sheet s R. .De

Pfhsid July 2091941 p perl cent to` `olis Oil Company,` HoustonText.,` H

,Y n acorpoi'ation of Delaware f v v Application March 26, 1941;seriarNo.` $5,325

. -2 claims.

invention relates towtheobtainrnent of `cores from wellsand more particularly. to a novel corintool.4 In my applicationserial No. 33 6,30U1led May 20, 1940, `patented'Aug.`12, 1941 No. 2,252,620, I`

of taking a cleanfsample `orcore fromthe side .goigzssluf o s i non-rotatable guide," 49T' `wliichhis adapted 1 to`be` lowered into aprojected` position orraised p "have disclosed a `novel"coring`devicefandthe v `present method, andthisapplication is a .con-

wallofawell by utilizing the difference in pressure of theA liquid or slush in the welland "that in aregion ofwloiver` pressure, to .operate` acore` barrel. "According to the invention a` fluid motor, em-

` ployed ,to rotate `the `core barrel,"` is` introduced into liquid in the `Welland at a selectedpoint, a.

valve is opened to "allow the liquid in thelwellto `flow,through `the linotoijwintoatregion of lower pressure,` whereby thevunotorfwill `function to i drive thecre barrel without supplying fany 4motive powerfrom thetop` of the well.

`With the foregoing objects outlined `andwvvith other objects'in view vvhichwill appearl asthe description proceeds, the invention consists in the :novel features `hereinafterj described f in detail,

V illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and

more particularly Pointed `out `the `appended v claims. i "Inthe drawings;

FigLyl `is a vertical sectional view end portionfofjmy improved tool."

Fig.` 2 is a similarview fof just abovethatoi Fig. 1. f Flgg3is a` bottom planfview ofthegstructure showninFig.1. i j

Fig. 4 isa horizontalcross-sectional view taken Fig, 5` 1s a vertical sectionaI viewer `thegiiquid QT slush poweru-nit;

YFig. 7 is arfragmentary view of the structure shown-in Fig; 5 anddllustrating a modification `of the liquid or slush powerunit;

rFigs. 8,9, `10 andi 11 afrehorizontal views taken Referring `orsi:` to Figs. i and ;3, it win bfnoted the lmiddle section into a` retracted position.

The casing 31` has a verticau slot 31cm iteivsu "to permit ananchoring` spike I3 toswing intojnd l out oi` "thefcasingq` Such spike"`is pivotally mounted on a pinii supportedby the wallsi] i land 52. Itisnormally held in a` retracted posi` tion by `a locking` pin llfextending into ahole l. n of thespike. subir pm is mounted mj afbear- I `inguin` thfevwall SZandisengagediby themforked 1 extremity of an arm `lll; the latter "being vfixed v v lto a rotatable vertical shaft 39 whichh extendsiip-` 1 `vvardly.through a "supporting sleeve 39o ilxeliy :mounted on theoutersidof the Wall 52. `An i other armf`-38` is xed tol theupper" end fot fthe v `shaft39 and is ladapted to 4beengaged by the toothed iperpheral portionof a cutter `36 when thelatterisin its uppermostposition.` Rotation Vof such' critter, when in suchvpositionfwill cause i @the teeth 36d tomove the arinfiin` a-coimterclockwise direction, looking `downwardly`,and.this ljtwilloause the lever 401 to movefin thesame" direc- 1 ftionandupull the :locking pin`4`l from tlie'holll` l .i yIWhenthishappens, the spike is turnedwina `counter-clockwise direction` by' means` of a. `coil vspring 44 which has"on`e of its ends xedto a vertically slidable` ntieinber` 59;, The member 5S Flias" a threaded stud 1 Sliextending` througli a verf` ticalguidefslot lill` arranged between the wallsland ,52x1hAnut` or `abutment vila on the" stud "1s` normallyengaged by a `p`in56`which` prevents the 4o. Fig. 6 isa horizontal'cross-sectional view taken member 59 from moving upwardly `and thereby holds the spring 44 under tension. Thewpiri` 5I `slideshorizontally infthewall 5I` and isjconnected to the forkedend i of an Lrm 55,` anduwhenfsaid farm is `moved in acloekwise direotionlilooking downwardly), thepinwill bewithdrawnfromits s positionabove thenut 59a so` that the guide `Si `fsan.,xise.w p Toaccomplish this, the iairlniilflisfixed"` to the lower end of ashaft 54 extendingthrough a" verticali` sleeve 54a `mounteduat therouter side` ot the `wall 5I. Another armis fixed to the `upper endl of the shaft liland` `i s adapted to `bewstrucli by an extension a `ot the slipper 50 whenthe vguide tube moves downwardly.`` It will therefore be `understood t that `whenthe guide` tube apf preaches;` 'itsr lowermost position,.; lit will` act` throughgthe parts 55050a,\53,"54, 55 and. 56.` to

`Walls `5I land 52, each-'having a cam edge 52a` release the "member 59 and` relieve the i spring. M

of" tension so as` topermit the spike 163 to be. re-

l Thelcasingl isof course slottedto accommo {dateihovements of the guide suben, armlwiiiif` mediately fabove the fslot; the `easing provided with a horizontal shoulder 31h which acts as a stop for a nut 48 having a threaded connection with the lower end 46x of a vertically slidable barrel or plunger chamber 46 guided by the casing 31. The parts 46x and 48 form a substantially cylindrical cavity 46a for the reception of the substantially cylindrical head 49a. of the guide tube 49. The joint thus formed allows the head to pivot within the parts 46x, 48, so that the lower end of the tube will be projected outwardly as the tube descends with the barrel 46. The

tube 49 serves as a guide for the core barrel which consists of an outer tube 32 and an inner tube 33 which have their lower ends secured to the cutter head 36. Lne walls of these tubes are spaced apart to provid: an annular passage 32a for drilling fluid which passes to said space from the barrel 46 through a passageway formed in the parts 46x and 49. From the passageway, the uid passes through ports 32h in the head of the tube 32 and enters a chamber 32:1: formed between the heads of the tubes. A packing ring 32c is arranged between the tube 32 and the guide tube 49 to prevent such fluid from travelling between those tubes. The fluid from the chamber 32a: passes through the passageway 32a and is discharged from the cutter through holes 36d. The lower end portion of the core barrel is provided with a conventional core catcher 33a.

The core barrel may be of the type disclosed in the United States Patents to Frisby No. 168,010, Christian No. 1,379,170, or Stone No. 1,720,700, and it may be rotated by any suitable exible shaft 4 (which may be of the type disclosed in the United States Patents to Stewart No. 729,694

or McCaskey No. 1,258,233). The shaft is preferably covered with rubber or some fiexible material 3| which functions to stiffen it and to protect the working parts from abrasive particles that are in the liquid or drilling fluid of the well.

The head of the inner tube of the core barrel is provided with ports 35 normally covered by a rubber cup 34. As a core enters the barrel, water trapped within the inner tube will be discharged through the ports 35, as the skirt of the cup will flex and permit this.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the barrel 46 which slides in the casing 31, has its head closed by a nut 45a, and this nut, as well as the nut 45 at the top of the casing, is provided with a hexagonal hole 45h to slidably guide a non-rotating slip or slide tube 30 through which an axially movable rotatable shaft 3 extends; the latter being connected at its lower end to the upper end of the flexible shaft 4. The tube 30 terminates at its lower end in a foot 30a which forms part of a plunger that is movable lengthwise of the barrel 46. A packing 41 forms part of such plunger, and when the lower end of the barrel 46 comes to-rest on the shoulder 31h (Fig. l), the plunger can continue to move downwardly under the inuence of the tube 30, so as to push the flexible tube downwardly and t'o force drilling fluid out of the barrel 46 and eventually through ports 36d of the cutter. Y

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated means for moving the tube 30 downwardly and rotating the shafts 3 and 4.` For example, in Fig. 5 it will be noted that the upper end of the tube 30 terminates in a head 30st that is screwed into the lower end of the body I of a liquid or slush power unit. The shaft 3 extends above'the head 30a: into the unit, and is preferably provided with a pair of rotors 23, each having radially slidable vanes I9 which operate in a cylindrical chamber 20 eccentrically arranged with reference to the axis of the shaft, Under the control of means hereinafter described, liquid or slush from the well can enter the chamber 20 (in which the lower rotor rotates), through ports I4, a space I6 and ports I1. Such fluid will rotate the rotor in the lower chamber 20, and will then be discharged through ports 2I into a passageway 22 which serves to conduct the same upwardly to the inlet ports I1 of the chamber in which the upper rotor rotates. The fluid will be discharged froml the upper chamber through ports 2 Ia into a passageway 26 which conveys the same upwardly through a port 21, 28, controlled by a valve member I3.

The stem of said member has a threaded connection at its vupper end with a head 28a from which a post II risesV 4'I'he latter passes through the head 29a of a tubular member 29 which is threadedlyv connected to the upper end of the motor body I5. The post is surrounded by a sealing washer I2 arranged in the head 29a, and is normally held in uppermost position by a coil spring 29h arranged between the head 28a and the top of the motor casing I5.

As long as the valve member is closing the port 21, 28, the motor cannot function, but as soon as the member I3 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 5, Well fluid can pass through the motor and cause rotation of the shaft 3. It will be observed that two or morerotos 23 may be employed, as the number of stages used will depend upon the diierential pressure between the hydrostatic head of the liquid in the well above the core tool, and the absolute pressure in the cylindrical chamber or receiver 29. OneV stage rotary engines have been used for many years as a steam, air or gas prime mover, and I have found that by operating such a rotary engine with uquid or s111511 under pressure, that itlis very efficient andv capable of delivering high torque with a low turning speed. Depression of the post II and opening of the valve `is accom-v plished by means of a lever I0 pivotally mounted at Illa on the head 29a and bearing against the upper end of the pin. This lever is actuated by a cam sleeve 9 which. may be released at the top of the well so asto slide down the supporting line 2 of the tool, until it reaches the lever I0.

If desired, the chamber 29 may be provided with a valve fitting 29x to facilitate the attachment of a vacuum-creating device (notshown), such as `a vacuum pump, so that a minor pressure maybe created within the chamber 29'when the device is lowered into the well. Obviously avacuum in the chamber 29 would aid in the passage of well fluid through the motor and into such chamber.

As shown in Fig. 7, the chamber 29:1/ may be of open construction instead of closed, provided the tube is made long enough to extend upwardly above the level of liquid in the well. In such a structure, the upper end of the rtube could be provided with one or more apertures 29a.l

In operating either form ofthe invention, the tool will be lowered into the well by any suitable means such as the line 2, and at such time, the barrel 46, guide tube 49 and coring barrel will be in their uppermost positions. When a depth is reached where a core is to be taken, the motor or power unit will be started in operation. .In Figs. 5 and 7, this will be accomplished by dropping the weight 9. In Fig. 5, the opening of the valve I3 will permit liquid in the well to pass through the motor and into the casing l29 which may contain a condensible gas or might be under a 2,324,682 vacuum conditioris,` f At any ratefathe .,operation a of the motor will causerotationxof` the shafts I 1 and 4, and as the` cutter head'36 `(Fig. 1),is in contactwith thearmi38, the stepped teeth at the` `i side ofthe cutter `(due tothe rotatiorr of the` core barrel) will movethe arm or lever 38. The latter will cause shifting ofthe lockingpln` 4l out of` the hole `42, so that the spring 44 (connected to the spille` at" 44a)`will snap the latter` outwardly and cause the spike to enter the wall or: the well at one side` andjam the opposite side,` of `the a casing-31 `against thewall of the well. `As 4this Y willx` thejpart31 in astationary position, the

wire line or cable can be `lowered sojthat the guide "y tube `30 will push downwardly on the plunger 41,

a Lalld the latter,` du to the liquid inthe'barrel IB,

C `will force `the barreldownwardlyuntil it"coines to` rest onthe .shoulder 3111; As the barrelde" soends, the slipper 50 `will slide along` the cam edgesf52q,;and asthe cutter is rotatingat this i time, it wiliirst cut aledge at one side of the wall of the well.` As the wire line or cable is i loweredifurther, the plunger 4'l`will push theliquid Aout ofthebarrel, and alsocausetheexible shaft 4to push the rotating corebarrel out of the guide tube so that a core will enter the core' barrel.` "Immediately'beforejthe guide tube 49 reaches* its lower-most position, theextension` 50a` will act"` on the lever 53`to release the abutmentpin 5E so 1 i that the spring `44 will berelieved of its tension.Y i

` When acorehas been `takeizt and an upward pull isexerted on-the lineA 2, the core barrelwill `first be drawn into the tube 48 then the core barrel and tube 49 will rise together untilthe :slipper 50 moves to `a positionabove` the arm *or lever 38 which, of `course, `causes theside of the `cutterhead 36 to again come in engagement with gaged by the cutter head; ofcourse, the :cutter is not rotating and thelockpin 4| canmove into the hole `42 of the spike when the latter is retracted tothe required position. The wall spike the armas. At the time when the. arm is 4en the `well for opening said valve. i i 1 i ,i i R'ALEIGH DE LONG.

will continue tohold the tool in place `as lonegfas theweight ofthe casing orshell 331 on the pivotH a From the foregoing, it isbelieved that my imy 1 proved method maybe readilyunderstoodaby thosel skilled inthe art; and `it is thererore i necessary to explainthesame further.`

vWh tI claim and improvement which comprises. a" chamber `arranged abovethe guide and having an open upper end, a huid-operated motor operatively connected `to saidbarrel and having an exhaust duct comi municating with the chamber, a valve controlling i said duct, whereby whenlthe chamber `is par@` tialiy submerged in liquid or drilling fluidin a L well and the valve is open,` the `motorwillbe ac,-

tuated by saidliquidorfuid due to the differ# Ventialpressure` betweenthe well and the `interior of,` said` chamber, and means adapted `to be controlled from the` top vofthe well for opening said taryA core barrel anda `guide forV the barrel, the

, y improvement which `comprises a chamber ar-v l" ranged above the` guide and provided with means for placing the chamber in communication with l, the interior of the `wen at a. position above the, "chamber, a duid-operated motor operatively connected to said barrel and positioned between the 1 chamber and guide, an exhaust duct placing the motor in communication with the chamber, a

valvecontrolling said duct, whereby when the chamber ispartially submerged in liquidordri11 ing huid in the Welland the valve is opened, the

motor willbe actuated by said liquid or duid due to hydrostatic pressure of the well `fluid, `and means adapted to be controlled from the top of desire tof secure-by Letters patentim l `l; In `a coring device ofthe type having a rovtary Ycore barrel and`-`a guide for thebarrel, `the 

